Adjustable hose support and feeder



March 11, 1952 HUT-r 2,588,842

ADJUSTABLE HOSE SUPPORT AND FEEDER Filed June 24, 1947 INVENTOR ARTHUR R. HUTT BY QM; 0m 4d; 1 61mm ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUs'rAfiLii nose sUrr'oR'r AND FEEDER Arthur R. Hutt, Hopatcong, N. J., a'ss'ign'or to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, New York,

N Y;, a corporation of New York Application June '24, lsiiseiiai No; 756,747

6 Claims. (01. 248-82) Thisinvention relates to the introduction of gases into molten mtarana particularly to an apparatus adapted to facilitate the introduction of oxygen to molten steel in an open hearth rurnace, although the apparatus may be employed in similar operations with other metals. 7 I

Slottman, in an application Ser. No. 728,868, filed February 15,- 1'9 l 7,- entitled Manufacture of Open Hearth Steel, new Patent No. 2580;614, has described a novel procedure for the reduction of the carbon content (if the steel. In accordance with the procedure described in the application, after other impurities have been lifiiinated in accordance with the usual open hearth practice, oxygen is introduced to the molten steel througha metal pipe extending through the slag layer into the steel. oxygen is introduced at a rate such that ignition of the metal pipe is avoided. Nevertheless the end of the pipe is consumed by melting at a more or less constant rate, so that as the operation continues the pipe must be fed forwardly and inte the molten bath.

Thus, a twenty-"foot length of iron pipe will be about two-thirds consumed iii from eight to twelve minutes. D'u'r'ing this interval,- such a pipe, having an internal diameter of one inch, will pass about 3330 cubic feet of oxygen (at '70" F. and 1 atmosphere) at an apparent une'ai velocity of 1010 feet per' second. When oxygen is introduced at this rate, the e'fiiciehcy of the reaction with carbon is close to 100% as long as the carbon content of the metal remains above 0.1%. Above this concentration of carbon; reac tion takes place over the entire body of the metal, and carbon monoxide is given on in tiny bubbles bursting through the slag over its entire surface. Below 0.1%, the efiiciency of oxygen usage in eliminating carbon falls off until, around 0.03% carbon, the efiiciency is about when using only one pipe. At this time, the greater portion of the area of the bath hes quietly and the only evidence of carbon monoxide evolution is in a limited area where the pipe is working. Efficiency can be increased in this range (i. e. below 0.1%) if the number of pipes is increased so that the distance through which the oxygen must difiuse to meet the carbon is decreased.

It is essential that the end of the pipe be held within the molten metal below the slag level. It must not, however, approach too closely to the hearth, since the oxygen in that event will be consumed with possible damage to the hearth.

2 taint? t0 the molten metal Without waste 'or destruction of the hearth. The operators are necessarily exposed to excessive heat and the resulting fatigue. The operation is therefore relatively arduous.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective apparatus which will permit the handling of the oxygen pipe by a single operator, materially reducing the labor involved with better assurance of the application of the oxygen or other gas supplied in the most ec'oiiomical manner.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification-and the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation partially in section of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and I Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to thedrawing, 5 indicates a wall or other rigid support, for exa'r'n'p'le the wall :of "an open hearth furnace in which molten metal may be treated by the introduction of oxygenorother gas. Hinges 6 are secured to the -wa11 5 and to an upright me'mber I which supports the mechanism. Thus the upright member I and the mechanism mounted thereon may be swung'about the axes of the hinges 6 from a position substantially parallel tothe wall to a perpendicular position, to permit introduction of the oxygen injection pipe 8 through an opening 9 in the wall of the furnace. A hose I0 is connected to the pipe 18 and to a source (not shown) of oxygen or other gas under suitable pressure;

The handling of a twenty-foot pipe in the manner outlined usually requires two operators in order that the oxygen may be delivered with cer- The injection pipe 8 rests upon a pipe "support H, preferably a channel member such as an I beam which is pivoted at 2 at thelower end of the upright member I. The hose is supported by a similar member I3 of lighter section whiehii's pivoted at IE on a bracket l5 mounted on the upright member 1. The member l3 has a hose clamp I 6 at its outer end.

Mounted on the bracket I5 is a'motor I! which is connected by a coupling is to drums I 9 and 20 on a shaft 2| supported in a bearing 22. A cab1e23 is connected to the outer end of the mem ber II by a link 24 and passes over a pulley 25 and around the drum 20. Similarly, a cable 28 is connected by a link 21 to the outer end of the member l3,.passes over a pulley 28 and around the drum l9; Thus, by actuating the drums l9 and 20, the c'ablesflil and 26 may be reeled in or out to shift the; members I l and I3 to any angular 3 position, such for example as is indicated by the dotted line positions. This permits tilting of the pipe 8 so that it may enter the furnace and pass beneath the surface of the molten metal therein at the proper angle.

The motor is supplied with current through conductors in a conduit 29 which is supported on the upright member i, terminating in a junction box 35. A similar conduit 3! from a source of current supply is connected to the junction box. A switch 32, having push buttons 33, is also connected through the conduit 34 to the junction box 38, thus permitting control and reversal of the motor H to wind or unwind the cables 23 and 26.

The pipe 8 is gripped by a clamp 35 having an opening slightly larger than the outside diameter of the pipe so that the latter is released when the clamp is approximately in vertical position. The clamp is pivotally mounted on a cross-head 35 which is slidably mounted on rods 31 mounted in brackets 38 on the under side of the member I i. The lower end of the clamp 35 is also pivotally connected to a rod 39 which is actuated by a solenoid motor t5. A spring 4| is disposed between the cross-head 35 and the clamp 35 and normally biases the clamp 35 to tilted or gripping position. Springs 52 are disposed between the cross-head and the rear brackets 38. When the solenoid motor 45 is actuated, the clamp 35 is first tilted to upright position and is then drawn rearwardly as indicated by the dotted lines. Upon release of the solenoid motor 40, the clamp 35 again assumes a tilted position and grips the pipe which is carried forwardly by the springs 42 to advance the ipe. Thus, by a step-by-step action, the pipe 8 may be fed to the furnace.

Current is supplied through conductors in a conduit 43 to a switch 44 having buttons 45 which enable the operator to energize the solenoid motor 40 and thus to feed the pipe as required through a guide bracket 66 which holds the pipe 8 in centered position on the member H.

Among the advantages of the device are the ease of operation to maintain the injection pipe 8 at the desired angle and to feed it forwardly as may be required. The hose ill is supported so that it cannot become entangled or interfere with the operation of the equipment.

Various changes may be made in the details of the apparatus as described without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for introducing gases into molten metal, an upright member, a pipe support pivotally connected to the member adjacent its lower end, a pipe clutch on the pipe support, a hose support pivotally connected to the upright member above the pipe support, cables connected to the pipe and hose supports and reversible means for winding and unwinding the cables to swing the pipe and hose supports in a vertical plane.

2. In an apparatus for introducing gases into molten metal, an upright member, a pipe support pivotally connected to the member adjacent its lower end, a pipe clutch on the pipe support, a

hose support pivotally connected to the upright member above the pipe support, cables connected to the pipe and hose supports and reversible means including drums rotatable on the same axis for winding and unwinding the cables to swing the pipe and hose supports in a vertical plane.

3. In an apparatus for introducing gases into molten metal, an upright member, a pipe support pivotally connected to the member adjacent its lower end, a pipe clutch on the pipe support, a hose support pivotally connected to the upright member above the pipe support, cables connected to the pipe and hose supports, reversible means for winding and unwinding the cables to swing the pipe and hose supports in a vertical plane, and means for actuating the pipe clutch.

4. Apparatus for introducing gases into molten metal comprising a supporting member, a pipe support pivotally connected to the supporting member for movement about a horizontal axis, a pipe clutch 0n the pipe support positioned to engage a pipe on said support and in one position to grip the pipe for feeding it along the support and in another position to release the Pipe, and means for swinging the pipe support about its pivotal axis.

5. Apparatus for introducing gases into molten metal comprising a supporting member, a pipe support pivotally connected to the supporting member for movement about a horizontal axis, a pipe clutch on the pipe support positioned to engage a pipe on said support and in one position to grip the pipe for feeding it along the support and in another position to release the pipe, electrically-controlled means for actuating the pipe clutch to feed the pipe along the support in a step-by-step action, and means for swinging the pipe support about its pivotal axis.

6. Apparatus for introducing gases into molten metal comprising an upright supporting member for mounting on a furnace Wall for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a pipe support pivotally connected to the supporting member adjacent its lower end for movement about a horizontal axis, a pipe clutch on the pipe support positioned to engage a pipe on said support and in one position to grip the pipe for feeding it along the support and in another position to release the pipe, means for actuating the pipe clutch to feed the pipe along the support in a step-by-step action, and cable means connected to the pipe support at a point remote from its pivotal connection to the supporting member to swing the pipe support about its pivotal axis.

ARTHUR R. HUTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 544,551 Vaughen Aug. 13, 1895 1,558,636 Rutal Oct. 2'7, 1925 1,748,938 Austin Mar. 4, 1980 1,966,200 Eskilson July 10, 1934 2,169,604 Fraser Aug. 15, 1939 

